Appliances for treating hoofed animals

ABSTRACT

A support for treating a cloven hoof of an animal including a sole providing elevation, to one toe of a hoof of the animal. A toe securing structure (TSS) is joined to the sole. A foot securing means is connected in one end to the sole, while the other ends of the securing means are fastened together such that the sole is tightly secured to the animal cloven hoof. In another aspect of the present invention, in order to treat hoof disorders such as fungal infection, which typically plague the area between the toes of a cloven hoofed animal, a medical composition is delivered from a bandage. After use, the bandage can be discarded without being touched. The bandage is preferably made of degradable and environment-friendly materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/956,034, filed Aug. 15, 2007, entitled“Appliances for treating hooved animals”. The present application claimspriority also from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.60/914,321, filed Apr. 27, 2007, entitled “Appliances for treatinghoofed animals”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treatinghoof infections or other problems associated with hooves. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to appliances applied to aidthe animal in recuperation from hoof damage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In typical modern animal husbandry practices, cows are left to stand ontheir feet ten to twelve hours per day. Lameness, abscess, dermatitisand other hoof diseases pose a regular problem especially as regardsconfined dairy cows, representing one of the major reasons cows areculled from the herd. When lameness is not controlled, dairy producerssuffer substantial economic loss. Lameness has been shown to beassociated with delayed estrus, poor breeding performance, shortenedlactation, low yield of milk fat and sudden drop in body weight, all ofwhich have a negative effect on profitability of the herd. It istherefore desirable to provide means to remedy or provide relief to suchan ailment for livestock such as cow or buffalo. U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,269the contents of which are incorporated herewith by reference discloses ahoof cover including a base, toe cap overlying a front portion of abase, first fastener support means extending to the rear of the base andsecond fastener support mean extending from the rear of the toe cap.Such cover provides a protection in situations wherein a bandage ortreatment has been applied to the animal's hoof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a hoof support in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an isometric view of a hoof support including a strapfastened by a Velcro fastening means;

FIG. 1C is an isometric rear view of a hoof support in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a hoof support including an elastic sockin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a hoof support including a double-layeredelastic sleeve;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a hoof bandage in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a hoof bandage in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention with internal packetsdescribed with dashed lines;

FIG. 6 is an isometric front view of a hoof sandal in accordance withsome embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric rear view of a hoof sandal in accordance withsome embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an isometric front view of a hoof sandal in accordance withsome embodiment of the present invention with a leg securing memberpassing between the cloven hoof toes;

FIG. 9 is an isometric rear view of a hoof sandal as in FIG. 8, withanimal foot not shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An isometric schematic view of a hoof support in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is described in FIG. 1A towhich reference is now made. A hoof of a cow is shown wearing a hoofsupport over the right toe of the hoof. The hoof support includes sole30 that provides elevation to the right toe of the cloven hoof. The soleis made of a rigid or elastic material. The sole is thick enough thatthe animal will not step on the damaged left toe of the hoof. The hoofsupport further includes toe securing to structure (TSS) 46. The TSS maybe constructed in several predefined sizes to account for difference insize of the individual animal hoof. Generally, the TSS may be defined asa modified tube. For example, two surfaces, either planar or curved arejoined to the opposing flanks of sole 30 and at the front end of thefoot support the two surfaces joined to form annular structure 48.Through annular aperture 50 surrounds toe 52 a portion of toe which isshown protruding the degree of protrusion depends on various dimensionalaspects of the hoof, and hoof support. The hoof support further includesleg securing member or members such as straps 54 connected in one end tothe sole. The straps are made from strong material such as rubber,plastic or leather. In the presently described embodiment, the otherends of the straps are fastened together such that the sole is tightlysecured to the animal cloven hoof. This end of the straps may beconnected for example by sewing, tying, buckling 58 or as can be seen inFIG. 1B to which reference is now made, by Velcro fastening means 64. Inanother embodiment of the present invention described in FIG. 1C, strap68 is connected on one end to the sole at site 70, bifurcating furtherupwards, such that the straps encircle the hoof of the animal andfurther are joined together for example by sewing, tying, buckling or byVelcro fastening means. An isometric view of a hoof support including anelastic sock in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is described in FIG. 2 to which reference is now made. Elasticsleeve 80 is attached for example by sewing or gluing to the upper partof the hoof support. The sleeve is formed such that it is fastened tothe leg of the animal. In addition, the sleeve has at least one aperture82 in order that dewclaw of the animal 84 can extrude from the sleevethrough the aperture. An isometric view of a hoof support including adouble-layered elastic sleeve is shown in FIG. 3 to which reference isnow made. In this example cloven hoof support 92 includes elasticdouble-layered sleeve 94 and within, an inflatable pillow. The pillowcan inflate by a pump, not shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that thecloven hoof support implemented in accordance with the present inventioncan support at least one toe of at least one foot of a cloven hoofedanimal.

In another aspect of the present invention, in order to treat hoofdisorders such as fungal infection, which typically plague the areabetween the toes of a cloven hoofed animal, a medical composition isdelivered from a bandage. After use, the bandage can be discardedwithout touching. The bandage is made of degradable andenvironment-friendly materials. Some examples of embodiments of thisaspect are described herein below.

Example 1: releasing the bandage from the animal foot with a stream ofhot or cold water.

Example 2: the bandage is adhered or bonded to the animal foot with aRemovable adhesive disposed in the interior side of the bandage and canbe removed after a while without leaving residue on the adherend. Theadhesive may be natural adhesives made of an inorganic mineral sources,or biological sources such as vegetable matter, natural resin, animalskin and bioadhesives.

Example 3: the bandage is made of composite material being crumbled withwater or being crumbled after a period of time and without water.

Example 4: releasing the bandage from the animal foot when the foottouches cow waste.

An isometric view of an exemplary hoof bandage in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention is described in FIG. 4 to whichreference is now made. Bandage 100 includes leg encircling portion 102that is bound along its top rim using an elastic leg-band 104 typicallyattached to the bandage 100. At the area of bifurcation of toes, the legencircling portion is divided into left toe member 106 and right toemember 108. Attached at the bottom rim of each toe member, is elastictoe-band 110. In accordance with one embodiment of the present inventionthe leg encircling portion is impregnated with a therapeutic ointment.After bandaging the damaged hoof, the impregnated medical composition inthe bandage is delivered to the hoof parts which the bandage covers orto adjacent areas. In accordance with another aspect of the presentinvention a medical composition is placed on the damaged hoof of theanimal and non-impregnated bandage is applied on the damaged foot overthe ointment. In another aspect of the present invention a medicalpreparation is delivered from a bandage pocket. An isometric view of anexemplary hoof bandage delivering medical preparation from a bandagepocket is described in FIG. 5 to which reference is now made. Bandage120 is furnished with three pockets 122 which can be attached to theinner side of the bandage for example by gluing or sewing. Medicalpreparations are then applied inside the pockets through pocketapertures 124 respectively. The internal area of the to pocket facingthe leg of the animal can be made from a porous fabric such that themedical preparation is delivered to the damaged leg easily.

In another aspect of the present invention a sandal is slipped over acloven hoof of an animal, particularly a cow. The sandal in accordancewith the present invention prevents continuing damage to the animalcloven hooves. An isometric front view of a hoof sandal in accordancewith some embodiment of the present invention is described in FIG. 6 towhich reference is now made. Sandal 200 includes sole portion 202 whichis made of a rigid or elastic material such as wood, leather, rubber,plastic, jute, polyurethane, or any combination thereof. The hoof sandalfurther includes toes securing portion (TSP) 203. The TSP may beprepared in several predefined sizes to account for difference in sizeof the individual animal hoof. For example, two surfaces, either planaror curved are joined to the opposing flanks of sole 202 and at the frontend of the foot support the two surfaces joined to form an annularstructure. Through annular aperture surrounds toes a portion of the toeswhich are shown protruding the degree of protrusion depends on variousdimensional aspects of the hoof, and hoof support. The sandal furtherincludes one or more leg securing members such as strap 204 connected inone end to sole 202. The straps are made from strong material such asrubber, plastic or leather. In the presently described embodiment, theother ends of the straps are fastened together such that the sole istightly secured to the animal cloven hoof. This end of the straps may beconnected for example by sewing, tying, Velcro fastening means or as canbe seen in FIG. 7 to which reference is now made, by buckling 205. Inone embodiment of the present invention sole portion 206 is perforatedsuch as hole 208. In other aspect of the present invention the innerside of strap 210 is padded with a soft martial such as syntheticfurring. In another embodiment of the present invention the TSP assumesthe shape of toes pocket 212. An isometric front view of a hoof sandalin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention isdescribed in FIG. 8. Sandal 218 includes sandal leg securing member ormembers such as strap 220 and 222 which are connected in one end to sole224. Strap 222 passes between the cloven hoof toes 226 and the strap iswider as the strap is away from the sole. In the presently describedembodiment, the other ends of the straps are fastened together such thatthe sole is tightly secured to the animal cloven hoof. As can be seen inFIG. 9 to which reference is now made straps 220 and 222 are fastenedtogether by buckling 228.

1. A support for treating a cloven hoof of an animal comprising: a sole;a toe securing structure joined to said sole: and a foot securing meansconnected in one end to said sole and wherein the other ends of saidsecuring means are fastened together such that said sole is tightlysecured to said animal cloven hoof, wherein the sole comprises a soleportion to provide elevation to a toe of the hoof of the animal relativeto the other toe(s).
 2. The support as in claim 1, further comprising anelastic sleeve attached to an upper section of the support.
 3. Thesupport as in claim 1, wherein said sole is perforated.
 4. A bandage fortreating hoof disorders, comprising: a leg encircling portion boundalong a top rim of the bandage using an attached elastic leg-band, saidleg encircling portion being divided into a left toe member and a righttoe member, wherein at the bottom rim of each of said toe members thereare respectively attached two elastic toe-bands.
 5. The bandage as inclaim 4, further comprising at least one pocket attached to the innerside of said bandage.
 6. The bandage as in claim 5, wherein the internalarea of said pocket facing the leg of the animal is made from a porousfabric.